Police will question VP's son over assault
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Police will summon Ivan Haz, son of Vice President Hamzah Haz, as a witness in an assault case involving a car dealer.
Hamzah has urged the police to investigate the case, though he has raised doubts over reports suggesting his son was involved in the matter.
A legislator from the United Development Party (PPP), which is chaired by Hamzah, called on the Vice President "to control his children's activities so they don't ruin his image".
This follows recent media coverage of a questionable contract President Megawati Soekarnoputri's son was awarded to build a housing complex on state land. The President's son, Rizki Pratama, has declined to comment on the issue.
In this latest case, Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara said on Friday the police would only summon Ivan after they questioned car dealer Kenni Mulianto, alias Akian. He is being treated at a hospital in Singapore for injuries sustained during the assault.
City police detectives chief Sr. Comr. Mathius Salempang said police had to speak with Akian before they could determine what, if any, role Ivan played in the matter.
Local media have reported that one Andi Siun Se allegedly assaulted Akian after he was arrested for driving a stolen vehicle because the Mercedes-Benz C240 he purchased from Akian did not have proper documents.
Antara reported that Ivan sold the car, a 2002 model, to Akian who then sold it to Andi for Rp 200 million (US$23,530), as stated in a receipt dated March 21. This is far below the Rp 555 million list price for a new Mercedes of the same model.
Hamzah has been quoted as saying: "Let the police investigate the case. But I don't think my son would have gone as far as reported (by the media)."
Jakarta Police chief Makbul said that contrary to media reports, "the car sold by Pak Ivan Haz had proper documents".
He also said police received a similar complaint from a man identified as Iskandar Syukur, who filed the complaint with the Pancoran Police station in South Jakarta in June. That complaint was related to the sale of a 2000 Mercedes-Benz C240.